Autobrake systems that can detect and brake for pedestrians are one countermeasure to help reduce the number of crashes involving pedestrians. A total of 5,977 pedestrians died in crashes in the US in 2017.

In general, pedestrian detection systems use a forward-facing mono camera or stereo cameras mounted near the rearview mirror plus radar sensors in the vehicle’s front grille to continuously scan the roadway and horizon for pedestrians and, in some cases, bicyclists or animals, who might cross the vehicle’s travel path. Algorithms identify the objects as people, bicyclists or animals, predict their travel path and determine the vehicle’s speed in relation to them. If a collision is imminent, the system typically alerts the driver and can apply the brakes much faster than a human could react.